Filler neck and pick up repairs

[Andy D]

The Rat is moving ahead. It started easily and I backed it out of the yurt. In preparation to put the bed back on. I replaced the filler neck. Where the filler neck attaches to the tank was split in several places. I gooped the splits with JB Weld gray silicone . If it works as advertised it should allow me to fill the tank without a smell. I'm glad I looked at the pickup too. The return elbow had sprung a leak. Not a surprise. It was real rusty. Living in the rust belt, this isn't my first rodeo with this. I figured out how to back off the pick up. It was rusted nearly solid. However a little tapping, banging and prying loosened it up. I took it to my bench grinder which has a wire wheel and a buffer instead of stones. Very carefully I took it down to bright metal. Very thin and pitted metal. The next step took the most time. Finding the tubes of JB Weld.. That took nearly a half hour. I have everything back together, but I won't run it til tomorrow. I coated both tubes. I boogered up the clip for the supply hose Can I buy one separately? Also the plug to the pump and gauge crumbled Are the plugs available? TIA

 

[Shran]

You can get new fuel pump plugs from Rock Auto... probably parts stores too, common deal for them to fall apart.

 

[Andy D]

The Rat is on a tight budget. I sanded the studs, put a dab of flux on and soldered them in place. I have the bed fitted. . Had I replaced the broken stuff, I'd be waiting on about $300 . worth of parts

Today I finishe d leveling and bolting the bed in. I used about 2" of shim to get the gap even between the bed and the cab . Is this normal?